Lani Minella

Lani Jean Minella (born July 28, 1950)[1][2] is an American voice actress, voice director, and producer mostly working in the games industry. She is also the founder and owner of the voice-acting agency, AudioGodz.[3]

Lani Minella
Born
Lani Jean Minella

(1950-07-28) July 28, 1950
San Diego, California, U.S.
Alma materSan Diego State University
OccupationVoice actress, voice director, producer
Years active1992–present
Notable credit(s)
Websitelaniminella.com

Career

After college, Minella started on Morning Drive radio for an alternative station in the late 1980's. After hearing her celebrity impersonations, GTE Interactive Media contacted her and asked her to imitate voices from the movie FernGully: The Last Rainforest, which was being pitched for a LaserDisc presentation to Magnavox and Philips.[4] She was then referred by the company to their CD-Roms division, where she worked on more voices and assisted script writing on games for children.[5] Minella asked the company if there were others doing similar work, and they suggested that she should go to trade shows, which led her to attend showcases like Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Game Developers Conference in San Jose, and Electronic Entertainment Expo in Los Angeles, where she gave out business cards but failed to get any offers. This led her to start her AudioGodz, a production company specializing in all aspects of voiceovers from talent to casting, directing, writing and production, in 1992.[6]

In 1996, Minella worked on a major first-person shooter video game, Duke Nukem 3D, as voice director and actress, voicing most of the female characters in the series. Lani helped cast the voice actor of Duke Nukem, Jon St. John. She met Jon when she was cast as the voice for a commercial he was producing in San Diego. After being impressed by her voices, Jon imitated the voices back at Lani and she asked if he had ever done voice acting for video games. She shortly got him a telephone interview with the game's creator, George Broussard, and eventually got him the part of Duke.[7]

Lani's first major voice role in a video game was for Her Interactive's adventure-mystery series Nancy Drew, starring as the titular character Nancy Drew, debuting with 1998's Secrets Can Kill. Lani reprised her role as Nancy Drew in 31 other video games, with her last being Sea of Darkness in 2015. Her Interactive's CEO then decided to find a voice actress local to the Seattle area (Lani lives in San Diego).[8]

Since starting her career and becoming well known for her unique 4-octave vocal range,[9] Lani has provided voices for many voices for other characters in a variety of video games, including Rouge the Bat in the Sonic the Hedgehog series, Ivy Valentine in the Soulcalibur series, and Lucas in the Super Smash Bros. series.

Personal life

Minella is half Italian.[10] In her spare time, she does vocal coaching, gardening, and taking care of her rescue pets.[11]

Filmography

Animation
List of voice performances in animation
Year Title Role Crew role, notes Source[12]
2002Burn-Up ExcessMaya Jingu, othersEnglish dubResume
2003.hack//SIGNGirlEnglish dub[13]
2003GeneshaftDolce Saito, Chacha, othersEnglish dub
2006Justice League UnlimitedMayor of Central CityEpisode: "Flash and Substance"[14]
2007All Grown Up!Kid, Old WomanEpisode: "TF + KP[14]
2012The Cleveland ShowHispanic WomanEpisode: "Flush of Genius"[15]
2018Motown MagicLorenzo[14]

Feature films
List of voice performances in feature films
Year Title Role Crew role, notes Source[12]
1992Ferngully: The Last RainforestBackground voicesDebut voice role, LaserDisc release
2019The Queen's CorgiGingerUS Version[16]
2019It Chapter TwoLoop GroupTweet[17]

Video games
List of voice performances in video games
Year Title Role Crew role, notes, region Source[12] Region
1995AstalAll voices[14]
1996Bubsy 3DBubsy Bobcat, othersVoice Talent[14]
1996Candy Land AdventureCaptain Cookie, Princess Lolly, Queen Frostine, Gramma Nut, Tree 2, Red Ant 1, Queen Bee, Miner 1[14]
1996DiabloAdria the Witch, Wirt the Peg-Legged Boy[14]
1997–2002The Land Before Time gamesLittlefoot, Cera, Ducky, Petrie, Chomper, Spike, MoVoice characterization[14]
1997–2002Nightmare Ned gamesSarah Needlemeyervideo game only[14]
1998StarcraftDropship Pilot[18]
1998Rocky & Bullwinkle's Know-It-All Quiz GameSherman[14]
1998–2015Nancy Drew gamesNancy Drew, various characters[14]
1999Snowboard Kids 2Slash Kamei, Damien, Wendy Lane[14]
1999Evil ZoneAlty Lazel, Midori Himeno, Ihadurca[14]
1999Duke Nukem: Zero HourFemale CommanderVoice actor[14]
1999Blue StingerJanine KingVoice actor and director[14]
1999Tail ConcertoWaffle Ryebread, Panta[14]
199940 WinksRuff, Tumble, mother[19]
2000Evil Dead: Hail to the KingAnne Knowby, Grammy, Deadites[14]
2000D2Martha[20]
2001Diablo II: Lord of DestructionBlood Raven, The Countess, Andariel, Malah, Ancients[14]
2001Half-Life: DecayGina Cross, Colette Green[14]
2001–2004Sonic the Hedgehog gamesOmochao, Rouge the Bat, VoidVoice actor and director[14]US/EUR/NA
2001AirBladeKatVoice actor and director[14]
2001Frogger: The Great QuestVarious characters[14]
2002Slots from Bally GamingOlive Oyl, Betty Boop[14]
2005–presentSoulcalibur gamesIvy ValentineVoice actor[14]
2006The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle Earth IIGaladriel, Spider Rider[14]
2007–presentFire Emblem gamesMia (Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn onward), Micaiah (Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn only), Mist (Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn only)Voice actor[14]
2007–Professor Layton gamesLuke (US English), Flora, Emmy, various others[14]
2008GrimGrimoireAmoretta Virgine, Opalneria Rain[14]
2008Super Smash Bros. BrawlPit, Lucas, Lyn[14]
2009Marvel: Ultimate Alliance 2Lucia von Bardas[14]
2009BorderlandsSteele[14]
2009New Super Mario Bros. WiiLarry Koopa, Lemmy Koopa, Wendy Koopa, Morton Koopa Jr.[14]
2010DarksidersSilitha, Tiamat[14]
2010Star Trek OnlineM'Tara, T'Nae, Sirella, Taris, Taelus, Vishka, Mivek, Computer voice, Jhu Terel, B'Elanna Torres, Nadel, othersVoice actor, casting, and director[21][22]
2010Amnesia: The Dark DescentGirl, Mother, ClariceVoice director[14]
2011Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War II – RetributionHive Mind[14]
2011The Elder Scrolls V: SkyrimThe Night Mother, Nocturnal, Aranea Ienith, Cindiri Arano, Dravynea the Stoneweaver, Idesa Sadri, Ildari Sarothril, Irileth, Jenassa, Marise Aravel, Niluva Hlaalu, Priestess of Boethiah, Sabine Nytte, Suvaris Atheron, Synda Llanith, Tilisu Severin, Katria, Female Dunmer[23]
2011Mortal KombatSindel, Sheeva[24]
2012Mass Effect 3Eve, Asari Medic[14]
2012LuciusMary[14]
2013Starcraft II: Heart of the SwarmSlivan[14]
2013The Last of UsClickers, Runners, BloatersVoice actor[14]
2014StriderNang Pooh, Xi Mang Wu, Female broadcaster[14]
2014Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS and Wii ULucas, Lyn, Larry, Lemmy, Morton, Wendy[14]
2016Rad Rodgers: World OneThe Jungle Elder[14]
2017XCOM 2 War of the ChosenChosen Assassin[14]
2017Remothered: Tormented FathersGloria, Red NunAs Lani "Alien Ilmann" MinellaPress,[25] Resume
2018SubnauticaSea Emperor[14]
2018Remothered: Tormented FathersGloria Ashmann, Red Nun[14]
2018War for the Overworld: The Under GamesOverlord Lamash[26]
2018God of WarPestaTweet[27]
2018Bendy and the Ink MachineLacie Benton[28]
2018 Dark Parables: Return of the Salt Princess Serafina/Fire Witch/Fire Doll Voice actor
2018 Dark Parables: The Match Girl`s Lost Paradise Forest Witch Voice actor
2018Super Smash Bros. UltimateLucas, Lyn, Larry, Lemmy, Morton, Wendy[14]
2019MediEvilNarratorTweet[29]
2020The Last of Us 2Clickers, Runners, BloatersVoice actor[14]

References
  1. Minella, Lani (October 26, 2015). "Lani Minella's 58th Birthday Tribute". Facebook. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
  2. "Lani Jean Minella". californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  3. Gnatek, Tim (November 4, 2004). "Giving Voice to Video Games". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  4. Sweeney, John (November 2, 2015). "Performance Matters: Interview with Veteran Voice Actress Lani Minella". SuperNerdLand. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  5. AKA Knuckles Echidna, Josh (April 2, 2001). "Lani Minella interview". Sonic Retro. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  6. Shirgley, Chris (July 30, 2015). "Immortal Darkness Interview: Lani Minella, Voice Actor". Immortal Darkness. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  7. Dominguez, James (August 27, 2014). "Duke Nukem speaks: how a radio station director became one of gaming's most iconic voices". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  8. "Interview with Lani Minella". Phoenix Star. January 23, 2015. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  9. "Lani Minella – Videogame Voices". NandrewForever YouTube channel. June 28, 2011. Retrieved December 25, 2017.
  10. "Interview with Lani Minella: face to face with Ms. Gloria". Remothered.com. April 11, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  11. "About". thewhitvault.com. 2014. Retrieved October 24, 2018.
  12. "Lani Minella's Credits" (PDF). Lani Minella. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  13. ".hack//SIGN (TV) – Anime News Network". Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  14. "Behind the Voice Actors – Lani Minella". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  15. "Heard you on "The Cleveland Show"". Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  16. "I play a redhead Scottish stable boy Ginger in this". Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  17. Minella, Lani [@LaniMinella] (September 12, 2019). "Just heard a few of my creature voices made it into this movie. After it's been out a while and if I get to see it, I'll let you know which ones. Yay!" (Tweet). Retrieved September 12, 2019 – via Twitter.
  18. "Phoenix Interviews Lani Minella".
  19. "Isn't that your voice? 🙂". Facebook. September 4, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  20. "thanks to Joshua Negron for digging up one of the voices I did in Dreamcast's D2". Facebook. June 30, 2017. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  21. "STO Voice actors page".
  22. "IMDB STO page".
  24. Minella, Lani [@LaniMinella] (March 17, 2015). "@Isti91 No I was in Mortal Kombat 9 as Sindel and Sheeva. Never contacted about X." (Tweet). Retrieved February 28, 2018 – via Twitter.
  25. "Let us introduce you to Lani Minella". Facebook. March 28, 2017. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  26. Minella, Lani [@LaniMinella] (April 18, 2018). "Meet Underlord Lamash – War for the Overworld: The Under Games youtu.be/ynZnkgCwnXQ via @YouTube 2 days until release. Check it out. I play other characters too. Fantastic company and people to work with!!!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 25, 2018 – via Twitter.
  27. Minella, Lani [@LaniMinella] (April 20, 2018). "God of War – Story Trailer | PS4 youtu.be/K0u_kAWLJOA via @YouTube Out today! Lucky to play a norse witch (Pesta). Check it out. Thank you Sony!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 25, 2018 – via Twitter.
  28. "Thanks to Lauren Synger and theMeatly, I am honored to be part of Bendy and the Ink Machine. Very fun game. Check it out". Facebook. May 2, 2018. Retrieved June 8, 2019.
  29. Minella, Lani [@LaniMinella] (May 9, 2019). "Here is just the clip from today's live Sony announcement. Yes I'm the Narrator and thankful" (Tweet). Retrieved June 8, 2019 – via Twitter.
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